In his home state, San Antonio-born, Waco-raised Pat Green fills arenas and has the status of musical legend. Judging from Wave on Wave, his 2003 second major label release, he'll soon be making waves elsewhere, too.

Green has an edgy, scuffed-up voice with passing similarity to Robert Earl Keen. Yet Green's originals like Wrapped and the haunting title tune are more often tinged with tender issues of the heart and soul rather than dark irony.

Even on chugging, world-weary Texas-flavored heartland rockers like I'm Tired and All the Good Things Fade Away, the tow-headed singer's winning affability and optimism glimmer faintly through the despairing lyrics. ~ Bob Allen

• Guy Like Me
• Poetry
• Wrapped
• Wave on Wave
• California
• Sing 'Til I Stop Crying
• All the Good Things Fade Away
• Run
• I'm Tired
• Eden's Gate
• Elvis
• Barricades
• If I Was the Devil